Director of Commercial Development

Job description

As Zap Energy advances the commercialization of its integrated fission and fusion platform, we are seeking an exceptional Director of Commercial Development to build strategic customer relationships that will shape the company's long-term growth. This is a high-impact role with responsibility for originating, structuring, negotiating, and executing complex commercial agreements with hyperscalers, industrial customers, utilities, government organizations, and other energy-intensive enterprises. Working at the intersection of advanced nuclear technology and large-scale infrastructure development, you will translate Zap's technical capabilities and commercialization roadmap into bankable commercial frameworks, including power purchase agreements (PPAs), capacity agreements, development partnerships, and other long-term strategic commercial arrangements. Initially an individual contributor, this role offers the opportunity to build and lead a commercial development organization as the company scales, making it an ideal position for a strategic dealmaker who thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and wants to help define the future of advanced nuclear energy. Key Responsibilities Commercial Deal Development & Origination Lead the origination, structuring, negotiation, and execution of complex commercial agreements—including power purchase agreements (PPAs), capacity reservations, development agreements, strategic partnerships, and other long-term commercial arrangements. Build, manage, and advance a robust pipeline of strategic commercial opportunities supporting the deployment of Zap Energy's integrated fission and fusion product portfolio. Develop innovative commercial structures that align customer needs with Zap's technology roadmap, enabling phased deployment strategies, long-term energy partnerships, and future technology transitions as the company's product offerings evolve. Partner closely with engineering, project development, finance, legal, and executive leadership to develop commercially attractive, technically viable, and executable agreements that support successful project development and long-term customer relationships. Lead complex commercial negotiations from initial customer engagement through contract execution, balancing customer objectives with Zap's strategic, technical, financial, and operational priorities. Strategic Customer Relationships Build, cultivate, and manage executive relationships with key customers, serving as a trusted advisor throughout the commercial engagement process. Own strategic customer relationships from initial engagement through commercial negotiation, contract execution, and transition to project development, ensuring alignment across technical, commercial, and executive stakeholders. Develop a deep understanding of customer business strategies, energy demand growth, infrastructure investment plans, procurement processes, and decarbonization objectives to identify opportunities where Zap Energy's integrated fission and fusion platform provides differentiated value. Represent Zap Energy with customers, strategic partners, investors, and at industry conferences and executive forums, strengthening the company's reputation as a leading provider of advanced nuclear energy solutions. Collaborate closely with executive leadership to identify, prioritize, and pursue strategic commercial opportunities that accelerate market adoption and long-term growth. Market Development & Commercial Strategy Help define and execute Zap Energy's commercial strategy, including market prioritization, customer segmentation, commercial offerings, pricing strategy, and go-to-market planning across target industries. Monitor market trends, competitive dynamics, customer demand, and evolving energy procurement models to inform commercial strategy and identify new opportunities for growth. Develop commercial frameworks, term sheets, strategic proposals, and executive presentations that clearly articulate Zap Energy's value proposition and support negotiations with customers, partners, investors, and other key stakeholders. Provide market intelligence and customer insights that influence product strategy, commercialization priorities, and long-term business planning. Cross-Functional Leadership Partner closely with the CEO, SVP of Growth, engineering, product, and project development teams to align commercial priorities with technology development, licensing milestones, manufacturing readiness, and deployment schedules. Contribute to regulatory strategy as it relates to commercial feasibility, licensing timelines, and customer communication around NRC licensing milestones. Support fundraising activities by developing and presenting commercial pipeline and contract status to investors and board members. Qualifications Required 10+ years of experience in energy commercial development, project finance, or strategic business development, with a demonstrated track record of closing complex, long-duration energy contracts. Direct experience negotiating and closing PPAs, offtake agreements, or long-term energy supply contracts — ideally at the $100M+ lifetime value level or greater. Deep knowledge of power markets, energy procurement structures, and the commercial frameworks used by hyperscalers, utilities, and industrials. Experience engaging C-suite and senior procurement decision-makers at large enterprises, with the credibility and relationship-building skill to operate at that level. Strong financial acumen: ability to model contract economics, understand project IRR sensitivities, and articulate deal value to both internal stakeholders and sophisticated buyers. Ability to work effectively in an early-stage, fast-moving technology company environment — comfortable with ambiguity and capable of building commercial infrastructure from the ground up. Preferred Experience in nuclear energy, advanced energy (SMR, fusion, geothermal, long-duration storage), or adjacent capital-intensive clean energy sectors. Familiarity with nuclear project development, NRC licensing processes, and how regulatory milestones affect commercial timelines. Prior experience at or with hyperscalers or cloud infrastructure companies in an energy capacity. Existing network of senior energy procurement contacts at hyperscalers, major industrials, or data center operators. Experience supporting debt financing or tax equity processes with commercial contract structures. MBA, JD, or graduate degree in engineering, energy policy, or a related field. What Success Looks Like In your first 6 months: You have mapped Zap's commercial addressable market across key verticals and developed a prioritized target account list. You have initiated substantive commercial conversations with at least three high-priority prospective customers and are actively advancing at least one LOI or term sheet. You have built deep relationships with key internal stakeholders in Engineering, Finance, and Legal to understand the constraints and opportunities that will shape deal structures By year one and beyond: You have signed or are in advanced negotiation on one or more commercial agreements that represent a significant, credible revenue milestone for Zap's advanced nuclear platform. You have established Zap as a recognized commercial counterparty in the nuclear PPA market, with a known pipeline and a clear roadmap to fusion commercial frameworks. You are building the team and institutional commercial capability that will support Zap's scale-up across multiple concurrent project deployments. Employment may be conditioned upon the ability to obtain export authorization. Estimated salary range: $180,000-260,000 annually. Candidates may be considered for other positions at Zap Energy and actual salary will be based on relevant education, experience, and other qualifications. Range is published in accordance with Washington Equal Pay and Opportunity Act. Zap Energy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations. About Zap Energy Zap is advancing the next generation of nuclear power technology across fusion, fission and hybrid applications. Built on an integrated platform of high-energy-density physics and pulsed power, liquid metals and advanced materials, and compact, modular systems, Zap is building the foundational technologies needed to deploy the energy sources of the future.